Thanks ~ Giving

Screen Saver Shot from iPad Mag/App EW

 Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday, celebrated primarily in North America. 

There are other countries that have observances for Harvests, such as; Germany, Grenada, Japan, The Netherlands, the Australian territory of Norfolk Island and the West African country of Liberia.  In all locals, it is an occasion of great feasting, when all give thanks for the blessings of the harvest and the end of yet, another year. 

In the US it is observed on the fourth Thursday of November and in Canada it is on the second Monday of October. Thanksgiving has its historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, but today it is mostly a gathering of those, who are in whatever family unit, life has bestowed upon you.

Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among almost all religions after harvests around the world. The Thanksgiving holiday's history in North America is rooted in English traditions dating from the Protestant Reformation, originally quite religious in nature.

In the United States, Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts; When Pilgrims, Puritans and Native Aboriginals shared together in celebration of a good harvest.   

No exact historical data is available to commemorate the first Canadian Thanksgiving, though, some scholars point back to 1578 and the explorer Martin Frobisher an English Explorer who recorded a post harvest celebration and/or Samuel de Champlain who in the early 17th Century also recorded that French settlers typically had feasts at the end of the harvest season and continued throughout the winter season, even sharing food with the indigenous peoples of the area.  It is known that New England and the surrounding area, adopted this annual celebration quite significantly and that as other immigrants arrived, such as the German, Irish and Scottish; that they too, added their cultural appetites to the festivities. 

Though other food types were served, the Thanksgiving Turkey and the Pumpkin pie have become the most iconic dishes.  Many of the American Founding Fathers had high regard for the wild turkey as an American icon, but turkey was uncommon as Thanksgiving fare until after 1800. 

By 1857, turkey had become part of the traditional dinner in New England, because it had one time, had equal recognitions as a mascot, like the Eagle. Imagine that, the Turkey as US's emblem!

Pumpkins are native to North America and were an early export.  They grow abundantly and visually, the vibrant colour of ripe pumpkins after all leaves have succumbed to frost - have become the visual proof that another season has ended.  

Quite Frankly, its all about the Meal! 

Regardless that society no longer plays an active role in the cycle of produce, Thanksgiving serves as a gentle reminder that we can and should embrace sustainable living and  allows us to make an effort to rejoice our pre winter nurturing with the group of people, we choose to call Family.

This article was published in Energy Works Magazine                                     written by Karyn Klaire Koski